Looking for love that lasts? Best Friends Animal Society can help you

ST. GEORGE – As sincerely as we might try, statistics show that being “consciously coupled” is often fraught with failure. According to bestselling author Hellen Chen, more than 85 percent of dating relationships end in a breakup. Not to mention, nearly a third of marriages end in divorce.

But don’t fret, there is a way to set realistic #RelationshipGoals this year: Ditch the dating and adopt a pet.

When looking for love, you’re more likely to find the real deal at your local animal shelter than at your local bar, or on Tinder, or Ashley Madison for that matter. Just for starters, about 81 percent of people on dating sites and apps lie about height, weight or age in their profiles, according to a University of Wisconsin-Madison study. But dogs and cats don’t lie about tail length or being housebroken, what you see is what you get.

Instead of roses this year, Best Friends Animal Society is offering you a dozen reasons why your #RelationshipGoals should include the adoption option:

Hanging with a pet will give pleasant new meaning to “Netflix and chill”

Your pet’s lasting love will make you never fear being “ghosted” again

Adopting a pet will help you overcome that fear of commitment

You’ll always have someone there to kiss you good morning, even before you brush your teeth

Walking a cat on a harness and leash is a guaranteed attention-getter

Chances are your pet will love to spoon and snuggle as much as you do, if not more

Your new canine companion will give you a valid reason to hang out and meet people at the dog park

More than 63 percent of people consider pets to be members of the family, according to the AVMA. So no matter what the configuration of a family unit, pets are a perfect source of love and companionship

If you’re not finding true love on Tinder, adopting a pet may be your answer

A pet will help you get accustomed to 24/7 adoration and unconditional love

An adopted pet can help you become less self-centered, as you learn to put another’s needs before your own

If you’re looking for love, but are freaked out by forever, check with a local shelter or rescue to find out about fostering

Contrary to what you see online, there’s plenty of drama-free companionship out there.

To make it even more attractive, Best Friends Animal Society and its official media sponsor, Hallmark Channel are offering pet adoption fees starting at $14 to help you find “The One.” The national event is taking place Feb. 1-15 at Best Friends adoption centers in Utah and Los Angeles, and at an event in New York, as well as through participating No More Homeless Pets Network partners across the country.

“If you’re looking to bring home a new pet, few people will argue that adopted animals reward their people with a depth of love and loyalty that pets from other sources often don’t seem to rival,” said Gregory Castle, co-founder and chief executive officer for Best Friends Animal Society. “They seem to know they were given a second chance, and they spend their lives repaying their families.”

Who knows, having a pet might even help you meet that special someone, if you haven’t already. Relationships come and go, but adoption can — and should — last a lifetime.

About Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends Animal Society is the only national animal welfare organization dedicated exclusively to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters. A leader in the no-kill movement, Best Friends runs the nation’s largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals, adoption centers and spay and neuter facilities in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City as well as lifesaving programs in partnership with more than 1,300 rescue groups and shelters across the country.

Since its founding in 1984, Best Friends has helped reduce the number of animals killed in American shelters from 17 million per year to an estimated 4 million. By continuing to build effective initiatives that reduce the number of animals entering shelters and increase the number who find homes, Best Friends and its nationwide network of members and partners are working to Save Them All®.

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About the Author

Kimberly Scott is a lifetime resident of Southern Utah. In 2013, Kimberly joined St. George News as a vital member of its editing, reporting and administrative team. She is passionate about engaging communities through writing and is dedicated to providing complete and accurate coverage of both anticipated and breaking news.